Dunstaffnage Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunstaffnage Castle |
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| Near Dunbeg, Argyll and Bute, Scotland |
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Dunstaffnage Castle seen from the east, with the gatehouse in the centre
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 Dunstaffnage Castle
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| Coordinates | 56°27′17″N 5°26′13″W / 56.454653°N 5.436936°W |
| Type | Castle of enceinte |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Historic Environment Scotland |
| Controlled by | Clan MacDougall 13th century to 1309 Scottish Crown 1309 to c.1470 Clan Campbell c.1470 to present |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Partially ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1220s |
| Built by | Duncan MacDougall of Lorn |
| In use | 13th century to 19th century |
| Materials | Local stone, sandstone |
Dunstaffnage Castle (which means "fort of the staff headland" in Scottish Gaelic and Old Norse) is an old castle that's partly ruined. It is located in Argyll and Bute, in western Scotland. The castle sits on a rocky platform by the sea, about 3 kilometers (2 miles) north-east of Oban. It guards the entrance to Loch Etive.
This castle was built in the 1200s, making it one of Scotland's oldest stone castles. It was first owned by the MacDougall lords of Lorn. Since the 1400s, the Clan Campbell has owned it. Even today, there is a special role called the "Hereditary Captain of Dunstaffnage." This person doesn't live at the castle anymore. Historic Environment Scotland now looks after Dunstaffnage Castle, and you can visit it. The old gatehouse, however, is still private property.
Contents
Castle History
Early Times at Dunstaffnage
Before the castle was built, there might have been an old fort here. This fort belonged to the Dál Riata kingdom as early as the 600s. Some stories say that the famous Stone of Scone was kept here. This stone was used to crown Scottish kings. However, other places like Iona and Dunadd are thought to be more likely spots for the stone.
The MacDougall Family
The MacDougall family built Dunstaffnage Castle in the 1200s. Duncan MacDougall, Lord of Lorn, started building it around 1220. His son, Ewen MacDougall, made the MacDougall family even more powerful. He probably added the three round towers to the castle and made the main hall bigger.
Later, the MacDougalls supported the Scottish kings. But when the Wars of Scottish Independence began, they sided against Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce defeated the MacDougalls in 1308 or 1309. After a short fight, he took control of Dunstaffnage Castle.
A Royal Castle
After Robert the Bruce took it, Dunstaffnage became a royal castle. Different people were put in charge of it. In 1431, King James I took the castle because his enemies were hiding inside.
Later, in 1470, King James III gave Dunstaffnage Castle to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll. This marked the start of the Campbell family's long connection with the castle.
The Campbell Family Takes Over
The Campbell family were loyal to the Scottish kings. They used Dunstaffnage as a base for royal trips against other powerful clans. King James IV even visited the castle twice.
Dunstaffnage Castle was involved in some battles during the 1600s. It was attacked in 1644 during the Civil War. In 1685, royalist soldiers burned parts of the castle.
During the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745, government soldiers used the castle. A famous person named Flora MacDonald was even held here for a short time. She had helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Scotland.
Castle's Decline and Repair
The Campbell family built a new house inside the castle in 1725. But the rest of the castle started to fall apart. In 1810, a fire accidentally destroyed the gatehouse. The Captains of Dunstaffnage then moved to a new house nearby.
In 1903, the Duke of Argyll, who owned the castle, started to repair it. In 1912, a court decided that the Hereditary Captain of Dunstaffnage still had the right to live in the castle. More repairs were planned but were stopped by World War I. In 1958, the castle was given to the state. Now, Historic Environment Scotland looks after it, and it is open for everyone to visit.
Castle Features
Strong Walls
Dunstaffnage Castle has strong, thick walls. They are about 35 meters (115 feet) long and 30 meters (98 feet) wide. The walls are made of local stone and are up to 18 meters (60 feet) high. They sit on a natural rock platform. The walls are very thick, up to 3 meters (10 feet), making the castle very hard to attack. This strong defense was important because the castle guarded the entrance to the loch.
Round Towers
Soon after the main walls were built, three round towers were added. These towers are on the north, east, and west corners. The north tower is the biggest. It had three or four floors and was probably where the lord lived. The west tower has a pit prison in its basement. The east tower was later rebuilt to become the main gatehouse. Each tower likely had a pointed roof.
The Gatehouse
The gatehouse was built by the Campbells in the late 1400s. It replaced an older round tower. This gatehouse is a four-story building. The entrance goes through the bottom floor. There were guard rooms with narrow openings for shooting arrows. Today, you walk up a stone staircase to reach the gate. In the 1700s, the gatehouse was changed to have more rooms. The fancy stone decorations at the top show the date 1725 and the Campbell family's coat of arms.
Inside Buildings
Inside the castle walls, there were other buildings. The main hall was in the east part of the castle. It was a large room above storage cellars. This hall had tall, narrow windows.
Another building was along the north-west wall. This part had a kitchen on the ground floor. In 1725, this building was turned into a two-story house. There is also an old well inside the castle, which is still there today.
Dunstaffnage Chapel
About 150 meters (490 feet) south-west of the castle is a ruined chapel. Duncan MacDougall, who built the castle, also built this chapel. It has beautiful stone carvings. Experts believe it was built around the same time as the castle, in the 1200s. The chapel is 20 meters (66 feet) long and 6 meters (20 feet) wide. It used to have a wooden roof. The windows have special "dog-tooth" carvings. By 1740, the chapel was already in ruins. A burial area was added to the east end for the Campbell family of Dunstaffnage.
Captain of Dunstaffnage
For a long time, a special person called the Hereditary Captain of Dunstaffnage was in charge of the castle. This role still exists today, but it doesn't have military duties anymore. To keep the title, the Captain must spend three nights a year at the castle.
Castle Ghost
People say that a ghost haunts Dunstaffnage Castle. It is known as the "Ell-maid of Dunstaffnage." This ghost is a type of fairy called a gruagach. Her appearances are said to happen when important things are about to happen to the castle's hereditary keepers.
Images for kids
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The south side of Dunstaffnage Castle
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Plans of Dunstaffnage Castle
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The gatehouse, with the remains of the north-east hall range to the left
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The north-west range of 1725, with the gatehouse on the right, seen from the parapet walk
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Dunstaffnage para niños
